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Get your taste buds ready for one of the most delicious fundraising events you have ever attended. The 8th Annual Mole Throwdown is a culinary, Art-filled experience that blends together our efforts to promote Chicano/Latino Art and Culture in an innovative and creative way that benefits Centro Cultural Aztlan’s year-long programming.

How many styles of mole will be served at the Mole Throwdown?

Mole is traditionally prepared for special events, which bring together friends and families. Mole a rich tasting delightful dark sauce is infused with the flavors of chili peppers, chocolate and about 25 or more, spicy ingredients, then married with turkey or chicken.

This succulent dish will be prepared and generously donated by local restaurants and local chefs for your delicate palate that is sure to ignite the taste buds. Cerveza (beer) will be iced down and served to compliment the meal. Tequila tasting bar will be provided by Salud Tequila Bar, and Tito’s Handmade vodka will be serving a cocktail to refresh your palate. First year participant, Boiler House Texas Grill & Wine Garden will be serving a mole inspired cocktail and mole ice cream. Patrons will be asked to vote for their favorite recipe, and a new winner will be announced! Participating chefs include: Ana Sandoval & Mario Bravo, The Box Street Social, Veronica Castillo Salas, Cocina Heritage, Colibri Llevando Sabor, Francisco Cid, Jenny’s Catering, Chef Jerry Steakhouse & Catering, Los Laureles Café, Samantha Lopez, Berta Romo-Rios, and Viva Vegeria.

In addition to the sampling of mole, there will be a Silent Art Auction featuring the great works of contributing artists that have supported Centro Cultural Aztlan for over three decades. These participating artists’ contribution is their testament of pride and accomplishment, and their way to show their gratitude to an organization, which focuses on promoting Chicano/Latino Art and Culture. Musical Entertainment and performances by Ghost Tracks, The Berts, Salute, Roger “Rabbit” Garza, Jerry Vasquez and Grupo Folklorico de Bendiciones.

The evening promises to be an exciting fundraising event sure to go down as one of the most creative ways to unite Arte, Cultura, Musica y Comida in a venue that truly supports the Chicano, Latino and Indigenous traditions such as Dia de Los Muertos, Virgen de Guadalupe Exhibit and the Lowrider Festival.

General Admission tickets for the event are only $40.00 per person. Other donation levels are available.

When North Carolina “Brew Chef” Tim Schaeffer contemplates the elements of a menu, he begins with the beer.

“I’ll pop a beer, take a sip and start to think about what food will work with this,” Schafer says.

Koch Ranches owner Tony Koch sent Schaeffer a case of beer from 5 Stones Craft Brewery, one of the lines sold at the Koch Ranches Gourmet Country Store, 2114 Mannix Drive, and asked him to create a menu that would use grass-fed and finished beef, wild feral boar, chicken, goat and sheep raised on the Koch ranch.

Schaeffer’s pop-up dinner will be June 11, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Southwest School of Art, 300 Augusta St.

All of the meats used for this event are born and raised on feedlot-free Koch Ranches. They are hormone free, antibiotic free and grass and forage fed and finished. Produce used is organically farmed and high-fenced to prevent animals from contaminating the plants.

The evening begins with a cocktail reception and a display of Koch Ranches specialty meats and local cheeses. Other bites include:

Francis Bogside in Southtown, 803 S. St. Mary’s St., is celebrating the King William Fair with a Fiesta Meat Fest at noon Saturday.

For $12, you can visit the meat carving station for your choice of veal leg, whole local chicken, jalapeno cheddar sausage and whole halibut as well as two side dishes. A la carte items include a Fiesta dog, Fiesta fruit salad and Fiesta funnel cake.

Cocktails and beer will also be available for purchase.

For more information, call 210-998-3063.

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The seventh annual Paella Challenge at the Pearl is fast approaching. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 13.

Chefs from across the city and region as well as a few from across the country will gather to present their unique take on the dish. Some will be as classic as can be, others will feature outrageous combinations of ingredients designed to delight the palate and challenge the taster. High school culinary programs from the city will also be on hand to show what they’re learning while competing for honors.

Tickets are priced at $80.12 for those 21 or older and $27.37 for those under 21. Prices include all you can eat and drink. For tickets, click here.

If you’re not familiar with paella, it’s a Spanish dish that begins with garlic and olive oil and then builds layer upon layer of flavor. Most are made with rice, but pasta is not unheard of as the base. Then you use your choice of seafood, chicken, chorizo, meats and vegetables in flavorful combinations.

At the Paella Challenge, you’ll see chefs using large paella pans and cook stands created especially for the occasion. But you don’t need any special equipment. This recipe for French Paella, from Francoise Bernard’s “La Cuisine: Everyday French Home Cooking,” uses a casserole dish or Dutch oven that you can use on a stove top. That way, you can make some for your next special occasion.

Play with the ingredients and tailor them to suit your family’s tastes.

Add the mussels to a large pot, cover and cook over high heat, stirring once or twice, just until they open, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the mussels to a bowl and remove 1 shell from each. Pour the broth through a fine strainer lined with a moistened paper towel into a glass measuring cup.

In a very large flame-proof casserole, melt the butter in the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, veal and pork and cook until nicely browned. Add the onions and bell pepper and season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook for 10 minutes.

Stir in the zucchini, tomatoes, chorizo, garlic and reserved mussel broth. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 20 minutes.

Add the rice saffron and enough water to barely cover the rice. Raise the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add the peas and artichokes and cook until the rice is tender and the water is absored, 10 to 20 minutes. Add the langoustines and mussels in the half shell just long enough to cook the langoustines. Transfer to a large serving dish or a large skillet and serve.

Serve sangria as an aperitif, but no hors d’oeuvre. After the paella, you can serve a salad if you like and a light dessert such as fruit or ice cream. For wine, pour a chilled rose or light red wine.

The sixth annual Tamales! Holiday Festival returns to the Historic Pearl, 303 Pearl Parkway, in San Antonio this Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.

Guests will be able to savor the tastes, sounds, and sights of the holiday season and celebrations in the city.

The Tamales! Holiday Festival at Pearl has evolved into a regionally and nationally recognized celebration of San Antonio’s vibrant culture and cuisine associated with the holidays.

At this free event, more than 20 different tamale vendors will be showcased, ranging from traditional San Antonio classics to South American and everything in between. Culinary students, celebrated restaurants and venerated chefs will showcase a blend of innovative twists and classic techniques, all with the traditional Central American dish wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves and steamed, the tamale.

In addition to the food, there will also be live music and entertainment for the entire family. For more information, visit www.atpearl.com or follow the Pearl on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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KLRN celebrates good food and great wine in one of its largest fundraisers of the year — the San Antonio Food & Wine Festival, which is taking place over 3 days in September.

The Wine Opener on Friday, Sept. 11, is a black-tie event featuring high quality wines and an elaborate spread of food prepared by Chef Mata at the St. Anthony Hotel. This event also features a silent auction of items such as a private condo vacation in Washington, DC, art, jewelry, catering packages, airline tickets and more. The Champagne Brunch is a morning affair on Sunday, Sept. 13, that features a variety of champagnes and bubbly wines alongside a beautiful spread of food also hosted by The St. Anthony Hotel. A live jazz band completes the ambience.

TheFine Wine & Cuisine Tasting on Sunday, Sept. 27, takes the best of wine sampling and the best of local restaurants and combines it into a large event at the Pearl Stable. Fill your glass and fill your plate with a rich selection of good food and great wine. San Antonio’s best restaurants will be serving food and hundreds of wines will be available for sampling. Restaurants include: Boiler House, Citrus, Folc, Fresh Horizons, La Hacienda de los Barrios, Las Canarias, Las Ramblas at Hotel Contessa, Papouli’s Greek Grill and more.

“San Antonio is continuously growing in the food and wine industries and we thrive on bringing more attention to the local people making that happen. Our events are fundraisers for KLRN, but they also celebrate and feature the businesses that make San Antonio such a wonderful city. Events like ours bring people together as a reminder of the power of collaboration and the importance of supporting local,” said Arthur Emerson, president and CEO of KLRN.

“Together we will compare six Cabernets from multiple Napa Valley wineries to fulfill the ‘horizontal tasting’ experience,” the steakhouse says. “Wine enthusiasts, start planning for an evening made to enlighten and unwind – you may even find a new Cabernet favorite!”

Father‘s Day is June 21 this year, and restaurants all over town are gearing up to give Dad a treat he’ll remember.

Call for reservations, though they aren’t needed at all places. Prices do not include tax and tip.

Alamo Beer Company, 202 Lamar St. – FatherFest will run from noon to 6 p.m. Together with Kiolbassa Sausage, the brewery will offer live music, sausage cook-offs, “dad stuff” and, of course, beer. “Supporting pints for prostates,” reads the flier for the event.

Arcade Midtown Kitchen, 303 Pearl Parkway, (210) 369-9664 – The restaurant will be open for Father’s Day brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ruth’s Chris is one of the steakhouses open on Father’s Day.

Bakery Lorraine, 306 Pearl Parkway, (210) 862-5582 – The bakery will be open on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Boiler House Texas Grill and Wine Garden, 312 Pearl Parkway, (210) 354-4644 – The restaurant will be hosting a Special Father’s Day Brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The dishes will range from $13 to $19 each.

Crumpets, 3920 Harry Wurzbach, 210-821-5600 — Father’s Day brunch will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Begin brunch with an appetizer and choose from Puff Pastry with White Wine Mushroom Sauce, Scottish Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese or Mousse Truffle Pate. For the main course, choose from an extensive selection of entrées including Chicken Breast with Champagne Sauce, Fresh Rainbow Trout or Tenderloin of Beef with Green Peppercorn Sauce. The Crumpets Trilogy will also be available on the Father’s Day Menu. A children’s menu will be available. Dinner begins at 7 p.m.

Green Vegetarian Cuisine – The restaurant will be open Father’s Day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Josephine St. Cafe is ready to treat Dad.

Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar, 1287 Gruene Road, Gruene Historic District at New Braunfels, (830) 606-1287 – This Father’s Day, the off-menu special is Baby Back Ribs. Served with a dinner salad and side. Pair it with a cold Shiner. Opens at 11 a.m.

Josephine Street Cafe, 400 E. Josephine St., (210) 224-6169 – The restaurant is open on Father’s Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The specials include a 7-ounce sirloin with shrimp for just $13.95. Shrimp can be fried, blackened or grilled.

Liberty Bar, 1111 S. Alamo St., (210) 227-1887 — Brunch on Father’s Day is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with dinner service available until midnight. Brunch specials include sourdough waffles with bacon and Original 1984 Waldorf Eggs Benedict. Other specials for the day include Hemphill County Cowboy Salad, Short Ribs and Fettuccine, Pork and Chicken Stew Oaxacan Style, Cherry Tarts and Abuelita Ice Cream.

La Gloria, 100 E. Grayson St., (210) 267-9040 – The restaurant will be open on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Local Coffee,302 Pearl Parkway, (210) 248-9133 – The coffee house will be open Father’s Day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mozie’s, 1601 Hunter Road, Gruene Historic District at New Braunfels, (830) 515-1281 – Let Dad enjoy lunch with the family in air conditioning while watching sports on eight all-sports TVs. The specials include Panko Parmesan Chicken with angel hair pasta in a chipotle cream sauce. Stop in Gruene Hall for free live music all day while in Gruene. Opens at 11 a.m.

Elmendorf, TX – The next in a series of tastings from olive growing regions across the globe, this month’s Passport Adventure Series will showcase the olive oils, wines, cheeses and cuisine of Argentina.

Join us on June 19 for an Argentine “Asado” – the national social gathering of friends, family, and locals around traditionally grilled meats and local wines.

On any given weekend in Argentina, a stroll through a neighborhood is sure to leave your belly raging and your head reeling with smoke and sizzling meat, sights and smells of asado, paired with great Argentinean wines.

Saundra (Sandy) Winokur, owner of Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard, will also present a brief history of the olive oil industry in Argentina.

The gathering starts Friday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person.

For reservations, call 210.621.0044 or reserve online by clicking here. You can also view the complete menu for the event at this link.

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Resurrecting the Hot Wells Hotel and Spa may seem a little crazy to some, after two fires in 1997 and 2011 destroyed much of the fabled resort. But that is somehow in keeping with the history of the place.

The “Gents” pool at the Hot Wells Hotel and Spa.

Its story begins in 1892, when the Southwestern Lunatic Asylum drilled a well in order to have enough water to operate, according to a history on the Edwards Aquifer website.

And it continues today as a project of the Hot Wells Conservancy, which was formed in 2013 “to preserve the vestiges of the historic hotel and provide educational, cultural, and environmental programming,” the site says.

But enough of history. What’s happening on the grounds of the spa these days?

Heirloom tomatoes known as blueberries.

You can take a yoga class regularly in the old ruins, if you’d like. Or you can join with hundreds of other food lovers on June 3 for Hot Wells Harvest Feast, a event in which you can tour the grounds while eating food grown on the property and sipping your choice of cocktails, wine and beer.

This is a fundraiser to benefit the conservancy that was created by Robbie Nowlin, executive chef of the Hotel Valencia, and artist Justin Parr, who lives on the grounds.

The concept is simple: The participating chefs, including the mixologists, have to include ingredients grown on the property in their dishes. That could mean one or more of several dozen heirloom tomatoes, peaches from the heavily laden trees, any of the many hot pepper varieties, hoja santa leaves, lovage, fennel pollen, garlic blossoms — you name it. Some of the booths will be set up inside the ruins, while the remainder will line the exterior, all under strands of Italian lights.

A few of the gardens at Hot Wells.

This year, Nowlin has more than 30 chefs lined up, and he had to turn away many more. He knows it has caused some hurt feelings, but he hopes they understand that there’s just not room to accommodate everyone at this point.

“I’m a chef,” he says, “not an event planner. But I’m an event planner.”

In the end, it’s the cause that’s important, and if you’d like to see this once-grandiose site restored or if you just want to have some fine food in a wholly unique setting, you can visit the Hot Wells Conservancy website for details. For a list of the participating chefs, click here.

A few tips if you’re making the trip to Hot Wells, 5503 S. Presa St., Wednesday or any time in the foreseeable future:

–Dress casually and for warm weather.

–Leave your high heels at home.

–Wear plenty of bug spray.

–Have a designated driver.

–Enjoy yourself.

Robbie Nowlin stands in the Hot Wells ruin.

The ruins of the Hot Wells Hotel and Spa.

Fennel grows by the ruins.

Peppers grow amid the flowers.

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